startle — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   a horse that startles easily

   Why shrinks the soul / Back on herself, and startles at destruction?

   More examples (1)

   He felt, too, that he was acting unjustly by Ethel: he had allowed a fortnight to elapse—he startled when he numbered up the days; it is strange how we allow them to glide imperceptibly away.

2. To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not startle us.

   Nothing could startle her, make her scold or make her cry. She did not complain, she did not rebel.

   More examples (1)

   The high voice in the night air startled me. Without thinking, I started to run. Then stopped. I spun around, my heart heaving against my chest. And saw a boy. About my age.

3. To deter; to cause to deviate.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   it would blast all their hopes, and startle all other princes from joining

   As they turned into Hertford Street they startled a robin from the poet's head on a barren fountain, and he fled away with a cameo note.

Noun

1. A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

   Related words

   skittish

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The figure of a man heaving in sight amidst these wide solitudes, always causes a startle and thrill of expectation and doubt, similar to the feeling produced by the announcement of " a strange sail ahead" on shipboard, during a long voyage.

Noun

1. a sudden involuntary movement

   Synonyms

   jumpstart

   Broader terms

   reflexreflex responsereflex actioninstinctive reflexinnate reflexinborn reflexunconditioned reflexphysiological reaction

   Examples

   he awoke with a start

Verb

1. to stimulate to action

   Synonyms

   galvanizegalvanise

   Broader terms

   shockfloorball overblow out of the watertake aback

   Examples

   the loud noise startled him awake

   galvanized into action

2. move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm

   Synonyms

   jumpstart

   Broader terms

   move

   Examples

   She startled when I walked into the room